page_title: University Philosophical Society
section_title: Reformation in the 19th century
hierarchical_section_title: University Philosophical Society / History / Reformation in the 19th century
caption_attribution_description: English: Oscar Wilde, three-quarter length portrait, facing front, seated, leaning forward, left elbow resting on knee, hand to chin, holding walking stick in right hand, wearing coat.
context_page_description: The University Philosophical Society, commonly known as The Phil, is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1683 it is often referred to as the oldest student, collegial and paper-reading society in the world.
  The society is based within the Graduates Memorial Building of Trinity College. Throughout its long history it has welcomed many prominent guests and some of its most notable members include Ernest Walton, John Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde.
context_section_description: In November 1842, to mark the original session date the Dublin Philosophical Society was fully reformed under its original name, traditionally meeting on Mondays, to cater for those Trinity College students too young to join other societies in Dublin. The first meeting took place in Marlborough Street.
  At the time, undergraduates were not allowed to join most College societies, such as the College Historical Society. It then became the Dublin University Philosophical Society in February 1843  when it was recognized by the college, with then Provost Franc Sadleir reassuming the traditional role of Senior Patron.
  During this time the society had its rooms in No.4 (now House 4) in Parliament Square  with larger meetings taking place within the Examination Hall.
  In 1860, the Dublin University Philosophical Society changed its name to the University Philosophical Society. This makes the Phil the oldest, student, paper-reading, and collegial society in the world, as well as currently being the largest such society in Ireland.
caption: Oscar Wilde, member of the society in the 19th century
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